Health inspection report and Portfolio
The majority of the tattoo shops will display their health inspection report on the wall or another area in the shop. You may think that if the shops have displayed some type of certification they are the best, but please ensure that the report should be made within the last 1 year and approved only by the Environmental Public Health Office. If they are unable to show a credible report, then look for other shops.
A good artist will always display their work and have a website or a social media page where you can see their works. When you are choosing a particular shop, they should have an album that has their past work and sketches available. If no portfolio is present, you have come to the wrong place and the artist in the shop is not experienced enough, or the artist is an apprentice. Ask for past references or past work regarding the style and tattoo you want.
Sterilization and Disposal practices
Tattoos shops in Raleigh ( https://www.blackhiveink.com/aftercare ) must have a box where they will disposing of the cartridges and needles referred to as a sharp box. The artist should not throw the needles in the trash and the sharp box should not be filled to the brim with used needles. After the artist has completed tattooing, the metal tube that holds the needle in place must be sterilized with a device known as an autoclave. Hospitals also use an autoclave for sanitizing their medical instruments after use. Mark the boxes as a biohazard and sealed them. The artists should wear disposable gloves and change for every client.
The shop should be clean, equipment is wrapped properly, and use distilled water
The establishment and the tattooing chamber must be uncluttered and clean. If food is kept at the artist’s station or trash can overflowing or the pets are freely walking around, this shows that the shop is not maintained properly and there are high chances of contamination.
Before the artist starts working, some equipment should be covered with plastic wrap or plastic sleeve. The tattoo machine, the clip cord that connects the tattoo machine to its power source and soap bottles should be wrapped in plastic and be changed for every single tattoo for avoiding contamination. Another thing you must notice when visiting the shops is whether the staff is using distilled water for rinsing a cup, as it is the only way to prevent the spread of bacteria while tattooing.